Stock Up or Stock Down: Oakland Raiders @ New Orleans Saints

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Sep 11, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) catches a touchdown pass over Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) and defensive back Reggie Nelson (27) during the second quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Next, we’ll look at three players whose stock has taken a hit after the first game of the season.

Keith McGill

Be it in coverage or in run support, Keith McGill definitely looked lost multiple times Sunday afternoon. It was very surprising to see him come off the bench ahead of fan favorite T.J. Carrie, and it was clear all game why that should not have been the case.

McGill is a player I have been critical of since the moment he was drafted, and he has done nothing entering his third season to change my mind on him. He is a liability in coverage, and was by far one of the worst tacklers I’ve ever scouted when he entered the draft.

I expect him to be leapfrogged by either Carrie or second-year CB Dexter McDonald in the near future.

Malcolm Smith

The former Super Bowl MVP was brought in on a 2-year, $7M deal to provide a spark to a beleaguered linebacker corps. While he brings value as a smart player who is well-versed in Ken Norton Jr.’s hybrid defense, Smith showed Sunday why many believe he is only a replacement level player.

While Malcolm wasn’t spectacular, he does a decent job in coverage as well as in his ability to diagnose the run. Despite this, he is undersized at 6’0″ 228 pounds, and it shows as a tackler, where he falls off far too many attempts for any fans liking.

Raider Nation can only hope he is outplayed for his starting job, but judging by the lack of depth behind him, we can expect Smith to start most of this season.

D.J. Hayden

Where to start with our dear friend D.J.? The fan favorite for most hated player on the roster has to easily be fourth year cornerback D.J. Hayden.